Schlage
Schlage Encode Plus
$329Cheaper
Released 2021
Best Smart Locks · head-to-head
Schlage Encode Plus vs Level Lock Pro
A sourced, side-by-side comparison. Schlage Encode Plus is cheaper at $329. Every spec and price links to its source.
Level
Level Lock Pro
$349
Released 2023
Which is better: the Schlage Encode Plus or Level Lock Pro?
On the specs we track, they're closely matched. The Schlage Encode Plus is the cheaper at $329.
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Full spec sheet
✓ marks the stronger figure where "more" — or "less", for price and weight — is unambiguously better.
| Spec | Schlage Encode Plus | Level Lock Pro |
|---|---|---|
| US price | $329 | $349 |
| Brand | Schlage | Level |
| Released | 2021 | 2023 |
| Unlock methods | Apple Home Key (NFC tap on iPhone/Apple Watch), keypad access codes, smartphone app, voice assistant (Alexa/Siri/Google), physical key | smartphone app (Bluetooth range), Apple Home Key (NFC tap on iPhone/Apple Watch), physical key (original hardware retained), optional keypad accessory ($79), optional key card/fob |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi built-in, Bluetooth | Bluetooth 4.0/5.0 built-in, Matter over Thread; Wi-Fi via optional Level Connect bridge ($79 add-on) for remote access |
| Matter | No | Yes |
| Auto lock | Yes | Yes |
| Battery type | AA batteries (built-in compartment; specific count not published by Schlage) | CR2 |
| Finish options | Satin Nickel, Matte Black, Bright Chrome, Aged Bronze | Multiple — integrates into existing exterior hardware (knob/lever retained; interior module is discrete) |
| Install type | Replaces existing deadbolt — single-bore door, no hub required | Retrofit interior — replaces existing deadbolt interior mechanism, exterior hardware unchanged |
| Release | 2021 | 2023 |
Sources — Schlage Encode Plus: schlage.com (verified 2026-06-15). Level Lock Pro: level.co (verified 2026-06-15).
What's the difference between the Schlage Encode Plus and Level Lock Pro?
Where the two actually differ on the specs we track (6 of 7). Matching specs are omitted.
- Unlock methods: Schlage Encode Plus Apple Home Key (NFC tap on iPhone/Apple Watch), keypad access codes, smartphone app, voice assistant (Alexa/Siri/Google), physical key vs Level Lock Pro smartphone app (Bluetooth range), Apple Home Key (NFC tap on iPhone/Apple Watch), physical key (original hardware retained), optional keypad accessory ($79), optional key card/fob
- Connectivity: Schlage Encode Plus Wi-Fi built-in, Bluetooth vs Level Lock Pro Bluetooth 4.0/5.0 built-in, Matter over Thread; Wi-Fi via optional Level Connect bridge ($79 add-on) for remote access
- Matter: Schlage Encode Plus false vs Level Lock Pro true
- Battery type: Schlage Encode Plus AA batteries (built-in compartment; specific count not published by Schlage) vs Level Lock Pro CR2
- Finish options: Schlage Encode Plus Satin Nickel, Matte Black, Bright Chrome, Aged Bronze vs Level Lock Pro Multiple — integrates into existing exterior hardware (knob/lever retained; interior module is discrete)
- Install type: Schlage Encode Plus Replaces existing deadbolt — single-bore door, no hub required vs Level Lock Pro Retrofit interior — replaces existing deadbolt interior mechanism, exterior hardware unchanged
What reviewers say
Sourced tester consensus for each — the "what people who used it think" layer, not just specs.
Schlage Encode Plus
Four whitelisted outlets (Tom's Guide, PCWorld, Reviewed/USA Today, TechRadar) reviewed this exact deadbolt hands-on. The only quantified hands-on metric was Reviewed's roughly 10-minute DIY install; no instrument benchmarks were run. All four praise the Apple Home Key tap-to-unlock and the easy, standard installation. Recurring gripes across the set: no backup power plus a single included key, a bulkier-than-average body, missing fingerprint/geofencing/door sensor, only 100 codes, and HomeKit Wi-Fi/remote access needing an Apple hub. Best suited to Apple households. (4 sourced reviews, 4 lab-tested.)
Praised: Apple Home Key tap-to-unlock via iPhone/Apple Watch is fast and genuinely convenient; Easy, standard hardware installation and quick pairing/setup; Broad platform support (Alexa, Google Home, Apple HomeKit) with built-in Wi-Fi, no hub for basic use.
Flagged: No backup power source and only one physical key included; No fingerprint sensor; missing geofencing and door-open/close sensor; Stores only 100 access codes, fewer than several rivals.
Level Lock Pro
Only one whitelisted tester, PCWorld/TechHive, published a hands-on review of this exact 2025 Matter-over-Thread Level Lock Pro; it calls it the best and most attractive smart lock you can buy and recommends it without reservation. No lab measurements are reported. (1 sourced review.)
Praised: Invisible design that looks like an ordinary deadbolt, not a smart lock; Supremely easy, fast installation and setup; Matter-over-Thread lets it work across multiple smart home ecosystems (Apple Home, Alexa, SmartThings) simultaneously.
Flagged: High price at $349; Numeric keypad is an added-cost option ($79); No biometric access (no fingerprint or palm-vein reader).